Mr. Paul Davis
Chairman
Maryland Parole Commission
6776 Reisterstown Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21215
Re: Release of Inmates to Other States
Dear Mr. Davis:
As you may know, part of my volunteer work involves correspondence from inmates all over the system (DOC and Patuxent).
Some of my caseload involves inmates who are about to be released for whatever reason.
Recently, I have come across inmates with a special problem but a special opportunity. These are inmates with no resources and no friends or family in the State of Maryland but that have relatives who would be willing to provide aftercare but are located in other states.
One inmate (Larry D, 235-###, MCIJ) wrote to me back in June describing this problem. He said at the time there was going to be a delay of about three months before his parole could be transferred to Wisconsin. In the meantime, he was going to be on the streets of Maryland without money, housing, health care and other needs. I wrote him back, but by the time my letter reached him, he had been released and lost to follow up.
Another inmate (Michael C, 193-###, ECI) is doing everything that can be done to prepare himself for reentry. He has written to various sources of help and I was the only one to respond with handouts on the services provided by my agency and others (examples enclosed). He will have been incarcerated in this State for 8 years at the point of parole. He says, "I'm a resident of the State of Florida, but I don't think I'll be able to acquire enough time at work release to obtain the necessary funds to post a security bond to parole to another State." He mentions he does not have family or friends in Maryland.
Yesterday, I heard from Frederico R. D, 232-###, ECI who is undergoing mandatory release estimated to occur in late November or early December of this year. In this inmate's case, we are talking a matter of weeks. His "worry and fear" is what he's going to be "up against", especially in the middle of the "cold winter". This is now a too familiar story with most DOC and Patuxent releasees, however, this inmate, on a "last choice" basis (his words), would want his parole transferred to the District of Columbia. The only thing I can do for this inmate is send him the handouts you find enclosed here.
Surely, there must be a mechanism available at the Parole Commission level to expedite transfer of inmates such as these to aftercare resources even if they be located in other states. There should be a mechanism to identify these candidates in enough time to process applications and do ancillary administrative steps before these inmates are out of range of follow up assistance by any of the Department of Public Safety agencies.
Finally, I am aware that the Division of Correction alone will release about 10,000 people in any given 12-month period. The inmates mentioned in this letter are a tiny handful of those that need assistance. However, with a small investment of administrative effort, substantial gains might be had in terms of recidivism prevention, conservation of other resources and success upon release.
Please give some thought to this problem and let me know whether some improvement can be seen in this area.
Sincerely,
Nancy Moran
nm
enclosures
cc:
Mr. Richard A. Lanham, Sr. (w/enc)
Mr. Roland Knapp (w/enc)